Arts

Arts

Reunion albums, follow-ups mark this summer's music scene

May 20

Summer has always been a great time for music. Unless you live in California or another glorious climate, it marks the time when outdoor shows and festivals become possible again, and even for those who don't attend outdoor shows, summer usually presents any music fan with a slew of new, interesting releases from a variety of bands. Some of the most accomplished working musical artists wait until the warmer months to release their new material, and this year is no different, with offerings from a smorgasbord of different groups.

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Arts

Ideas trump aesthetics at ICA's Kuri exhibit

May 1

Contemporary art can be a confusing genre for individuals not interested in the art world, as it often pushes the boundaries of what we perceive to be beautiful and artistic. And while many contemporary artists still work with a traditional canvas and paintbrush, the desire to envision and create something new frequently translates into unusual methods and atypical media.

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Arts

The Voice' vocalizes against 'Idol' formula

May 1

Even with the absurd amount of hype and publicity surrounding NBC's new reality show "The Voice," last Tuesday's series premiere turned out to be a refreshing and entertaining spin on the typical televised singing competition.

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Arts

Tacos Lupita offers cheap, authentic Mexican and El Salvadorian food

April 28

Hailing from the West Coast, I am used to being surrounded by cheap, delicious Latin American food. There are practically a dozen places within a couple miles of my house, all with varying degrees of authenticity; there are the Taco Bells and Chipotles that you will find everywhere, as well as La Hacienda, where it's difficult to get service if you don't speak Spanish.

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Arts

Exotic sound sets Dengue Fever apart

April 27

Sultry. Beachy. Exotic. These words are what come to mind when describing Dengue Fever. The globe-trotting, Cambodia-enthusiasts are back with the release of their fourth album, "Cannibal Courtship."

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Arts

Boston Independent Film Festival invades the hub

April 27

It's easy to get caught up in the fact that it's springtime.

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Arts

Top Ten | Celebrity Weddings We'd Rather See

April 27

The day the whole world has (for some reason) been waiting for is almost here. The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton will take place tomorrow at Westminster Abbey, but we at the Daily Arts Department can't help but feel less than enthusiastic. Instead, we came up with 10 celebrity weddings we would rather anticipate/watch/fawn over.

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Arts

From the Office of the Tufts Daily

April 27

Dear Tufts Connections,

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Arts

No games played with 'Song of Ice and Fire' adaptation

April 26

First off, let me save you some trouble: HBO's long−hyped series "Game of Thrones" is not, I repeat, not "Lord of the Rings" (2001−03). It may take place in a separate mythical world, it may include myriad complicated intertwining storylines, it may even feature Sean Bean (Boromir, for you "LOTR" noobs) — but thematically and editorially, the stories are poles apart.

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Arts

The Greatest Movie Ever Sold' falsely advertised, though insightful and spunky

April 26

Do you think you're fully conscious of the blurred line between the arts and advertising in your favorite TV shows and movies? If you're blissfully unaware that product placement in the childhood favorite "E.T.: The Extra−Terrestrial" (1982) is basically the reason that Reese's Pieces exist — and would like to remain unaware — then you should probably avoid Morgan Spurlock's latest film, "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold." Also, you shouldn't have read that last sentence. Oops.

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Arts

The Trip' keeps its laughs on the way to the big screen

April 25

"The Trip" has had an interesting journey. It was originally a six−episode television series that aired on BBC Two, but has since been condensed and combined into a feature film released in the United States by IFC Films.

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Arts

Charice opens up about 'Glee' and future endeavors

April 25

They say that the best things come in small packages, and that's certainly true about Charice.

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Arts

Madeline Hall | The Tasteful and the Tasteless

April 25

I know you literally have 57 finals, 82 papers and 17 projects due next week. I know you literally have 202 performances to attend this weekend. I know there are literally endless hours of sleep that you will forgo in the next month. Literally. I know these things, believe it or not. And my heart has not yet shriveled up with graying age or unsavory bitterness; I truly sympathize, and sometimes empathize, with the existential woe that is associated with undergraduate life. I do. But the completion of a task brings a sense of relief from the miasma of menial work — and hallelujah to that!

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Arts

African Cats' tells tidy tale of lions and cheetahs in savanna

April 24

What would it be like to grow up as a cheetah or a lion? "African Cats," released by Disney's sub-branch Disneynature this past Earth Day, attempts to answer this question by telling the stories of two families of African cats living on the savanna.

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Arts

No happy ending in sight for ABC's latest

April 24

Wednesday night's newest sitcom begins with a runaway bride disrupting the impossibly close friendship of six yuppies who all own absurdly awesome apartments. No, I'm not talking about "Friends" (1994-2004), but rather a similarly premised show on ABC named "Happy Endings."

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Arts

Vanbot releases lackluster debut album

April 24

Swedish native Vanbot, aka Ester Ideskog, dropped her debut, self-titled album "Vanbot" last Friday to mixed interest. Her Swedish heritage, along with her prolific use of synthesizers and sweet vocals, invite comparisons to acts such as Robyn and newer Danish singer Oh Land. While these likenesses are definitely founded in aesthetic similarities, Vanbot will probably not live up to their reputations.

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Arts

ICA exhibit explores resurging popularity of vinyl records

April 21

In today's world of music listening, tangibility has lost out to convenience. Most people of our generation listen to their music through iPods or other digital media, leaving them without an album to hold onto or a record cover to associate with the music.

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Arts

Why to give 'Parks and Rec' another chance

April 21

This article is the latest edition of "Second Chances," a semi−recurring feature looking at TV shows that deserve a second chance from viewers. Their ratings may be low, but their quality is high, so if you tuned out early on, here's our case for why you should give each show another try. Up this time: NBC's "Parks and Recreation."

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Arts

Movie Trailer Roundup

April 20

"Abduction": If your friends strong-armed you into watching the "Twilight" (2008, '08 and '09) movies like ours did, you'll be disappointed by the number of bullets Taylor Lautner manages to avoid in the "Abducted" trailer — what if they were silver?

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Arts

Comic book follow-up to 'Black Dynamite' worthy of its namesake

April 20

Within the first 10 pages of "Black Dynamite: Slave Island," the comic book follow-up to the 2009 film "Black Dynamite," Black Dynamite kills a great white shark by stabbing it with its own fin. "He wasn't the first great white motherf----- I had to take out with my bare hands," Dynamite remarks. "Hell, he wasn't even the second."

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